Binge-eating Disorder
By: Olivia Bauman
What Binge-Eating Disorder Is
Symptoms
- Eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g. within any 2-hour period), an among of food that is definitely larger than most people would eating in a similar period of time under similar circumstances
- A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating).
- Eating much more rapidly than normal
- Eating until feeling uncomfortably full.
- Eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry.
- Eating alone because of feeling embarrassed by how much one is eating.
- Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty afterward.
- Marked distress regarding binge eating is present.
- The binge eating occurs, on average, at least once a week for 3 months.
- The binge eating is not associated with the recurrent use of inappropriate compensatory behavior and does not occur exclusively during the course of bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa. (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2014, p. 345).
Occurrence of Binge-eating Disorder
Causes of Disorder
- Family history of eating disorders.
- Inheritance of genes that make someone more susceptible of developing binge-eating disorder.
- History of dieting.
- Young age, this disorder is commonly seen in people in their late teens and early twenties.
- People who are overweight and acutely aware of their appearance and are self-conscious about their appearance.
- History of depression or substance abuse.
- People who have trouble coping with stress, boredom, anger, sadness, and worry. (Binge-eating Disorder, n.d.)
Myths and Misconceptions about Binge-eating Disorder
Fact: Individuals with eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes.
Myth: Eating disorders are caused by photo shopped images in the media.
Fact: Many people are exposed to the media and altered images on a daily basis but only a small percentage of them actually develop eating disorders. Eating Disorders are serious illness that have biological, genetic and psychological underpinnings. Sociocultural messages about weight and beauty can certainly impact a person's body image and stimulate pressures to look a certain way, but they cannot cause an eating disorder.
Myth: Men don'e get eating disorders.
Fact: At least 1 out of every 10 people with an eating disorder is male. In Binge Eating disorder, men represent as many as 40% of those affected.
Myth: Only people of high socioeconomic status gets eating disorders.
Fact: People in all socioeconomic levels have eating disorders. The disorders have been identified across all socioeconomic groups, age groups, both sexes, and in many countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North and South America.
Myth: Eating Disorders are a lifestyle choice; someone can choose to stop having an eating disorder.
Fact: Eating disorders are serious illnesses with mental and physical consequences that often involve a great deal of suffering.
Myth: Eating Disorders are a result of over controlling parents and dysfunctional families.
Fact: Between 50-80% of a person's risk for developing an eating disorder is due to genetic factors. Parents and families can play a integral role in helping a loved one recover. For this reason family therapy is a primary therapeutic modality used for adolescents and is also strongly encouraged for adults. (Eating Disorder Facts and Myths, 2014, p.1).
Are You Experiencing These Symptoms?
Treatment Options
- Psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, and dialectical behavior therapy to help teach how to improve unhealthy eating habits and reduce bingeing episodes.
- Medications such as antidepressants and anticonvulsant topiramate to improve symptoms of binge-eating disorder.
- Behavioral weight-loss programs after completion of treatment of binge-eating disorder.
- Self-help strategies such as books, videos, support groups, or internet programs.
- Massage and therapeutic touch to help reduce anxiety caused by this disorder.
- Mind-body therapies such as yoga, hypnosis, meditation, and biofeedback to increase awareness of your body's cues for eating and fullness, as weel as promote a sense of well-being and relaxation.
- Acupuncture to reduce depression and anxiety. (Binge-eating Disorder, 2014)
Support Groups
You are not alone and you can find help. Here are a few support groups were you can seek help:
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/find-help-support
http://www.edreferral.com/Support_Groups_for_Eating_Disorders.htm
http://www.anad.org/eating-disorders-get-help/eating-disorders-support-groups/
References
Binge-eating Disorder. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/binge-eating- disorder/basics/causes/con-20033155
Eating Disorder Facts and Myths. (2014). The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt. Retrieved from http://eatingdisorder.org/eating-disorder-information/facts-and-myths/